Automatic needle-clamp for talking-machines.



No. 893,929. PATENTED JULY 21, 1909 G. KDNIGSTBIN.

AUTOMATIC NEEDLE CLAMP FOR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 1907.

$1507 Kan z 'gs 22272,-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GABOR KONIGSTEIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO D., H. GULICK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2]., 1908.

Application filed September 4, 1907. Serial No. 391,331.

To a? Z whom i :5 may concern:

Be it known that I, GABOR KONIGSTEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Needle-Clamps for 'lalking-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to attachments for talking machines, and especially to an automatic needle clamp. Its object is to provide a simple, cheap, practical attachment which can be applied to any' talking machine already in use; and which will permit a needle to be put in or taken out without the use of thumb-screws, and which will provide for the seating of the needle in such fashion that either a soft tone or a loud tone may be ob tained from the same needle.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more'fully described and claimed, havingreference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is' an elevation showing the invention applied to an ordinary sound-box and stylus-bar. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the invention, enlarged. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same omitting the clamping sleeve. Fig. 4 is an end view of the sleeve; Fig. 5 is a like view of the clamp.

1 A'is a head of suitable size, shape and material, having a stem 2- by which it can be inserted into the socket of any ordinary soundbox, and'secured therein by the usual set StltW. Manifcstly, though,-this head could be made integral with the stylus-arm. This head carries the spring-j aw members 3 which normally tend to open outward, but which may be compressed to grip and hold a use die point, as 4, when the latter is inserted into the clai'n )jaws 3.

The main feature of the invention resides in the use of the spring-jaws 3, and in suita able means for compressing them to grip the needle point, or opening them to release the needle point; in conjunction with the tonequalifying means, hereinafter stated.

The jaws 3 may be secured to the head in a suitable manner and various devices may be employed to operate the clamp-jaws 3. In the present instance, I have shown a barrel member 5 seoured to the head A, and adapted to detachably receive the base ring 6 to which the spring-jaws are fixed; the barrel 5 having a suitable bayonet slot 7 to receive the lug 8 on the ring 6. The opening and shutting of the jaws is done by the springactuated sleeve 9. When the sleeve is pushed in to compress its spring 10, it allows the clamp members 3 to open and release the needle point. Releasing the hold on the sleeve 9 allows the spring 10 to act to close the jaws and grip the needle point.

The clamp-jaws 3 are preferably connected at their inner ends to the cylindrical ring portion 6 which, as before stated, is detachably connected to the barrel or socket 5 on the head A so as to permit the ready removal of the jaws, whereby either a felt washer or a silver washer, as indicated at 11, may be inserted into the socket, and against which washer the needle will seat; one or the other of these washers, either felt or metal, being used, respectively, according as to whether it is desired to play soft or loud. The idea of using an interchangeable felt or metal washer is important, because thereby I have, in addition to my automatic clamp feature, a, simple and convenient means or softening or expanding or amplifying the tones.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patexit is v r An automatic needle clamp for talking machines, consisting of a head having a stem for attachment to an ordinary sound-box, said. head provided with a barrel portion, spring clamp members secured to a base ring which detachably fits the inside of the barrel, a spring-actuated sleeve slidable on the outside of the barrel and operative on the clamp members to hold the latter normally closed, a needle point carried by the clamp members, and a tone-qualifying washer 1nserted into the barrel and against which the back of the needle impinges.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OABOlt KONIGSTEIN. Witnesses:

l l a mom .llAHN, Gno. ll. STRONG. 

